Alaska Gear List

I'm finally back home (for a few weeks anyways) so it's time to move ahead with preparations for Alaska. I purchased my tickets to Alaska arriving at 8pm on 24 June departing 30 June at 6 am. We are currently scheduled to start flying into the wilderness on 25 June at 8am, we will be taken in in two groups. Every should be on the ground in ready to hike by about 11am.

Fairbanks is turning out to be more expensive to fly into, so we might not have saved very much money by switching locations, but we will be truly off the grid so it should be amazing. Rob is planning on flying into Anchorage and renting a car to drive to Fairbanks which if several people go in on with him will save a considerable sum. If you are interested in doing it with him shoot him an email (or me if you don't have his address).

Below is a basic gear list (not extensive). Please let me know what you can offer for group gear so we can plan and cut some weight:

Personal Gear (be prepared, read up on Alaska range weather and plan accordingly, we could be up against anything even in June):

• backpack (make sure it fits, ask Mike if you want to know how much it sucks if it doesn't)


• sleeping bag


• therma rest or other mattress/ground pad


• bag liner (optional, but it could get pretty cold at night even in June)


• boots (good ones, think Scarpa or Asolo)


• sandals or comfort shoes for around camp and possible river/creek fording


• socks and sock liners (optional) to limit rub


• clothes for temperature range of 35-70 degrees (think in layers)


• rain shell or poncho


• pack rain cover or dry bags for inside your pack (optional, most packs are treated to be water resistant nowadays)


• 2-3L water carrying devices (bottles or pack bladder etc.)


• Food (email me if you want idea's, plan for 3000 calories a day)


• Stove (if you don't have one there are enough in the group to share, but let me know so we plan enough fuel)


• matches (waterproof)


• flashlight and extra batteries


• first aid kit (small should suffice, I will bring a larger group kit)


• map and compass or GPS


• bug spray (the bugs are supposedly pretty bad so don't skimp, if you are buying any new clothes for the trip pop for clothes with Bug-Off, it works really well)


• bear spray or pepper spray (check TSA website for exact maximum allowable in your luggage)

• Gaitors for higher elevation travel (could be some snow pack, we can abort if it gets too deep)

• Crampons (may be useful depending on conditions, we'll check the week before the trip)

Group Gear

• tents


• tarps or ground covers


• bear cans (might end up being a personal item, you can rent from REI)


• saw (I'm bringing one)


• hatchet

• Stove's and fuel

**if you think of any additions let me know.